Golden Girls Star Rue McClanahan Has Died‎

Ginny · 06-03-2010, 12:07 PM

http://www.people.com/people/article...390844,00.html

Quote:

Golden Girl Rue McClanahan has died at the age of 76.

"She passed away at 1 a.m. this morning," her manager, Barbara Lawrence, tells PEOPLE. "She had a massive stroke."

McClanahan, who played man-happy Blanche Devereaux on the still-popular '80s sitcom Golden Girls, had suffered a minor stroke earlier this year while recovering from bypass surgery. Lawrence adds that at the time of her death Thursday, McClanahan “had her family with her. She went in peace."

Still in syndication, Golden Girls ran on NBC from 1985 to 1992. Only last year, McClanahan's costar, Beatrice Arthur, died from cancer. Estelle Getty died in 2008. Surviving star Betty White, 88, is currently enjoying a remarkable resurgence in her career, having recently hosted Saturday Night Live.

Born in Healdton, Okla., Rue lived in six towns by the time she was 8. Her father was a road builder who moved from one project to another. She found solace in acting ("the only thing I ever wanted to do") and after four years at the University of Tulsa moved to New York, where she worked as a part-time file clerk while trying to find jobs in the theater.

Her first job was off Broadway, in 1957, and she finally hit Broadway in 1969. TV work came from soap operas, until she made it on CBS's Maude, starring Beatrice Arthur, starting in 1972. She played Maude's best friend Vivian.

But it was Golden Girls that put her on the map and led to fame, fortune – and several husbands. In all, she had six, including actor Morrow Wilson, whom she wed in 1997 and who survives her, as does a son, Mark Bish, from her first marriage.

As McClanahan told PEOPLE in 1986: "I've always been lucky enough to marry good cooks. One cooked Greek. One cooked Tex-Mex – chili and stuff." Then, with a laugh, she added, "True, one needed a recipe to make a peanut butter sandwich ..."

So sad... RIP

Digital Ghost · 06-03-2010, 12:21 PM

I was very sad to hear this... she was amazing.
This always made me laugh.

*triplexxx* · 06-03-2010, 12:54 PM

Getty in 2008, Arthur in 2009, now McClanahan this year. I'm glad she got to be around her family at the time, RIP.

Cowabunga Kiefer · 06-03-2010, 12:56 PM

Very sad. She played her role perfectly. I hope Betty White is okay too!

*Roseangelo* · 06-03-2010, 01:10 PM

Really sad! I just started season 4 of watching the complete Golden Girls series. All four of them were/are so awesome.

*Guitar_Raph* · 06-03-2010, 01:19 PM

She will be missed.

Besides Maude & Golden Girls/Palace, one of my favorite roles was on a tv-movie; The Dreamer of Oz; The L. Frank Baum Story. She played Frank Baum's mother in law, who always despised him for being an actor. Frank based her mother in law on The Wicked Witch of the West. It was seen on NBC back in 1990.

I feel so sorry for Conrad Bain. That makes two close friends he's lost this week. He worked with Rue on Maude & Gary Coleman on Diffrent Strokes.

So congratulations to Betty White for winning "Golden Girls Survivor"

I leave you with an old saying, Better Late Than Pregnant! (Blanche; Grab That Dough).

*TheCanadiandrome* · 06-03-2010, 02:37 PM

OMG! Betty White is now the only one left!

RIP Blanche!

*Raph's Girl* · 06-03-2010, 03:14 PM

And then there was one. RIP Rue...

*Ninjinister* · 06-03-2010, 03:50 PM

I remember her best from Mama's Family. That show was the s**t.

*Luzmagica* · 06-04-2010, 01:38 AM

"The Golden Girls" One of the best 80´ series ...We will miss her...!

Ginny · 06-04-2010, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guitar_Raph

I leave you with an old saying, Better Late Than Pregnant! (Blanche; Grab That Dough).

I remember that! OMG that was hysterical!

*BubblyShell22* · 06-04-2010, 04:08 PM

Yeah, this was sad to hear. RIP, Rue.

*Sage Ninja* · 06-13-2010, 01:26 PM

Oh no! Not Rue! Now Raose is the only one left...

06-03-2010, 12:21 PM	#2
Digital Ghost Mad Scientist Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: The lab Posts: 1,163	I was very sad to hear this... she was amazing. This always made me laugh. __________________ Instagram

06-03-2010, 12:54 PM	#3
triplexxx Mad Scientist Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,819	Getty in 2008, Arthur in 2009, now McClanahan this year. I'm glad she got to be around her family at the time, RIP. __________________ Please don't shoot me Mr. Big Mike. I'm too young and good-looking to die, well too young. I got a father, I got a mother, I got a grandmother, I got a little sister...and a little brother this high (raises hand), and a little brother this high (lowers hand), and little brother this high (lowers hand), and a little brother this high (lowers hand), and a little brother this high (lowers hand) and then I got a great big brother this high (slaps gun and runs). "Fright Night" - Three Stooges

06-03-2010, 01:19 PM	#6
Guitar_Raph Superhero musician Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,191	She will be missed. Besides Maude & Golden Girls/Palace, one of my favorite roles was on a tv-movie; The Dreamer of Oz; The L. Frank Baum Story. She played Frank Baum's mother in law, who always despised him for being an actor. Frank based her mother in law on The Wicked Witch of the West. It was seen on NBC back in 1990. I feel so sorry for Conrad Bain. That makes two close friends he's lost this week. He worked with Rue on Maude & Gary Coleman on Diffrent Strokes. So congratulations to Betty White for winning "Golden Girls Survivor" I leave you with an old saying, Better Late Than Pregnant! (Blanche; Grab That Dough). __________________ Mikey drums with nunchucks! Last edited by Guitar_Raph; 01-29-2015 at 09:03 PM.

06-03-2010, 02:37 PM	#7
TheCanadiandrome Big, Bad & Bold Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Inside the Technodrome; Shredderville; Saskatchewan Posts: 19,719	OMG! Betty White is now the only one left! RIP Blanche! __________________ Add me: PSN/XBL; Nintendo Network ID: BDS-3.1.6; Switch FC: SW-3378-5206-8020 TMNT Fan Club: http://sot.ag/4jZR0 Visit My Wish List: http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=30904 My Collection: http://forums.thetechnodrome.com/showthread.php?t=40276

06-03-2010, 03:14 PM	#8
Raph's Girl Dierna Soul, Reporter Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Jakku Posts: 10,831	And then there was one. RIP Rue... __________________

06-03-2010, 12:56 PM	#4
Cowabunga Kiefer Hench Mutant Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Born in Nashville, now I live in NYC. No TMNT sightings yet... Posts: 303	Very sad. She played her role perfectly. I hope Betty White is okay too!

06-03-2010, 01:10 PM	#5
Roseangelo Emperor Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: California Posts: 9,120	Really sad! I just started season 4 of watching the complete Golden Girls series. All four of them were/are so awesome.

06-03-2010, 03:50 PM	#9
Ninjinister 無問題 Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Moesko Island, WA Posts: 14,348	I remember her best from Mama's Family. That show was the s**t. __________________

06-04-2010, 01:38 AM	#10
Luzmagica A Magic Light Dudette! Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Spain. Posts: 3,878	"The Golden Girls" One of the best 80´ series ...We will miss her...! __________________

06-04-2010, 04:08 PM	#12
BubblyShell22 Leo-holic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 16,912	Yeah, this was sad to hear. RIP, Rue.

06-13-2010, 01:26 PM	#13
Sage Ninja Band of the Hawk Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: USA Posts: 3,927	Oh no! Not Rue! Now Raose is the only one left... __________________ Cassandra: You won't fight me, but will you fight--for him! Cassandra's Revenge ~Tangled the Series ________________________________ http://frankviola.org/2012/01/30/godsviewofawoman/ _______________________________ http://nox-artemis.tumblr.com/post/4...k-and-feminism